http://www.usps.com/prices/pricechan...NewMay09Prices

[nONIE]

The cost to mail a letter gets more outrageous all the time.Thanks for the info Tal, I put extra stamps on all my last mailings as I thought the price had gone up already.

[Niels]

Thanks for the reminder concerning the postage increase. I had forgotten all about it. However, most of the stamps I have been buying lately are the forever stamps anyway.

[nONIE]

Good Idea Niles, I finally figured that out after giving the USPO [a few extra dollars!

[billethkid]

We are after all subsidizing all the junk mail that gets processed at a lower rate!!!
If they need money, how about offering a "premium" stamp that if you buy them you get no junk mail? In the long run it would be cheaper.

At some point we will all be paying an internet or email tax to compensate for the loss to the USPS.



BTK

[golfnut]

You can buy the forever stamps at the Post Office before 5/11 at the 42 cent price and they are still good after the price increase.....GN

[BogeyBoy]

The Forever stamp is a great way to buy now for future use.

At today's exchange rates here's the cost of mailing a letter first class in other countries:

Great Britain - .53 cents, going to .57 soon
Canada - .44 cents
Japan - .82 cents
Mexico - .49 cents
Switzerland - .87 cents
Australia - .39 cents

The advertisements (aka Junk) that you receive in the mail are quite frequently dropped right at the local post office or distribution center to get the best rates. All the post office has to do is handle them locally. That's why you pay for first class - the post office takes your mail from The Villages and delivers it all the way to Alaska, or anywhere in between, for your 44 cents. From the recent reports of financial problems at the post office maybe they will go out of business. FedEx will be glad to deliver your letter to Alaska, their cheapest rate is $50.60.